How to Keep Friends Forever
Talk regularly together., Stay in touch regularly, even if you aren't physically near one another., Have faith in your friend., Remember the important things., Respect each other's choices in life., Find fun things to do together., Give one another...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Talk regularly together.
Stay in communication via the phone, texts, emails, online chats and, of course, face to face.
Find as many chances as you can to remain in touch during the weeks and months of your busy life.
Don't let it go too long between staying in touch.
Don't be self-absorbed when chatting.
Listen to what your friend has to say and learn about what is happening in their lives.
In a genuine friendship, they'll want to hear your side of things in good time too.
Don't go on about you all time.
Listen to your friend more than you talk about yourself. -
Step 2: Stay in touch regularly
Meet up often, if it's possible.
Even if you live apart from each other, make it a rule to catch up now and then.
Visit one another, have lunch together, go to the movies or spend a vacation somewhere together.
Write letters when apart, or send emails.
Update each other regularly. , Have their back when the chips are down and be supportive.
Trust them and believe their side of the story until proven otherwise.
By having faith in your friend, you show them that you're in the friendship for the long run, not just to please yourself in the short term.
Help your friend when she or he needs help. , This includes birthdays, anniversaries, the birthdays of one another's children, the precious times you've had together in the past.
It's the thought that counts, you don't need to send large gifts or make a show of remembrance.
Simply call up, send a card or catch up to remember something important together. , This includes romantic interests, child raising preferences and career choices.
They may not be your personal preferences but then again, you're not your friend, you are a friend of your friend.
Respect them, offer your considered guidance but don't badger or irritate them with your ideas of what would have been better for them to do.
They don't want to hear that and they won't want to keep seeing you if being scolded is all they get out of the relationship. , Shared interests often rest at the heart of friendship, so make the most of this and go and do the things you both enjoy.
Make a space in your diary to participate in the activity or event together on a regular-ish basis.
You'll have fun and it'll keep both of you enjoying each other's company. , Smothering is as deadly to a relationship as constantly distancing yourself.
Aim to get the balance right and know when it's time to let your friend be with other people or to have time to themselves. , Sometimes it is easy to get a notion that "the more the merrier".
Too many friends is a crowd and closeness is the victim of too many people trying to get along.
Stick to quality over quantity and don't force your friend to like the same people you do if that just doesn't work out for them.
And most of all, don't leave your friend for more friends.
Good friends are hard to find: they are rare and therefore precious. , Even if they get on your nerves, be polite around them, that's all that is asked of you.
Refrain from gossiping or dragging down his or her family members.
That's a complete no-no.
Lend a sympathetic ear if needed; sometimes your friend will want to vent.
However, don't agree with your friend's summation of their relatives, just agree with your friend's feelings and be supportive.
Your friend doesn't want to hear you criticizing the family as well. , Realize that you'll both change as the years go by but if you can stay focused on what the friendship means to both of you, and you can both respect the changes, then you can remain good friends and enjoy being together still.
Things will change over time, but it is in accepting that that you can constantly renew the basis of your friendship and continue to grow together. -
Step 3: even if you aren't physically near one another.
-
Step 4: Have faith in your friend.
-
Step 5: Remember the important things.
-
Step 6: Respect each other's choices in life.
-
Step 7: Find fun things to do together.
-
Step 8: Give one another space.
-
Step 9: Don't crowd out the friendship.
-
Step 10: Respect your friend's family members.
-
Step 11: Enjoy each other's company.
Detailed Guide
Stay in communication via the phone, texts, emails, online chats and, of course, face to face.
Find as many chances as you can to remain in touch during the weeks and months of your busy life.
Don't let it go too long between staying in touch.
Don't be self-absorbed when chatting.
Listen to what your friend has to say and learn about what is happening in their lives.
In a genuine friendship, they'll want to hear your side of things in good time too.
Don't go on about you all time.
Listen to your friend more than you talk about yourself.
Meet up often, if it's possible.
Even if you live apart from each other, make it a rule to catch up now and then.
Visit one another, have lunch together, go to the movies or spend a vacation somewhere together.
Write letters when apart, or send emails.
Update each other regularly. , Have their back when the chips are down and be supportive.
Trust them and believe their side of the story until proven otherwise.
By having faith in your friend, you show them that you're in the friendship for the long run, not just to please yourself in the short term.
Help your friend when she or he needs help. , This includes birthdays, anniversaries, the birthdays of one another's children, the precious times you've had together in the past.
It's the thought that counts, you don't need to send large gifts or make a show of remembrance.
Simply call up, send a card or catch up to remember something important together. , This includes romantic interests, child raising preferences and career choices.
They may not be your personal preferences but then again, you're not your friend, you are a friend of your friend.
Respect them, offer your considered guidance but don't badger or irritate them with your ideas of what would have been better for them to do.
They don't want to hear that and they won't want to keep seeing you if being scolded is all they get out of the relationship. , Shared interests often rest at the heart of friendship, so make the most of this and go and do the things you both enjoy.
Make a space in your diary to participate in the activity or event together on a regular-ish basis.
You'll have fun and it'll keep both of you enjoying each other's company. , Smothering is as deadly to a relationship as constantly distancing yourself.
Aim to get the balance right and know when it's time to let your friend be with other people or to have time to themselves. , Sometimes it is easy to get a notion that "the more the merrier".
Too many friends is a crowd and closeness is the victim of too many people trying to get along.
Stick to quality over quantity and don't force your friend to like the same people you do if that just doesn't work out for them.
And most of all, don't leave your friend for more friends.
Good friends are hard to find: they are rare and therefore precious. , Even if they get on your nerves, be polite around them, that's all that is asked of you.
Refrain from gossiping or dragging down his or her family members.
That's a complete no-no.
Lend a sympathetic ear if needed; sometimes your friend will want to vent.
However, don't agree with your friend's summation of their relatives, just agree with your friend's feelings and be supportive.
Your friend doesn't want to hear you criticizing the family as well. , Realize that you'll both change as the years go by but if you can stay focused on what the friendship means to both of you, and you can both respect the changes, then you can remain good friends and enjoy being together still.
Things will change over time, but it is in accepting that that you can constantly renew the basis of your friendship and continue to grow together.
About the Author
Richard Barnes
Writer and educator with a focus on practical lifestyle knowledge.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: